New Delhi | INVC Tech Desk —
In yet another jolt to the global tech job market, Google has laid off hundreds of employees from its Platforms and Devices division, a unit responsible for flagship products like Android OS, Pixel smartphones, and the Chrome browser. The fresh wave of cuts was first reported by tech site The Information, signaling intensified restructuring at the tech giant.
Inside Google’s Layoff Strategy
The layoffs come just months after the launch of Google’s voluntary exit program in January 2025, aimed at streamlining teams following a massive organizational shift. The division impacted by the recent layoffs was created by merging the Android and Chrome teams into a unified Pixel & Devices group, overseen by Senior VP Rick Osterloh. The restructured group originally had over 20,000 employees.
A Google spokesperson said in a statement:
“Since merging the Platforms and Devices teams, our focus has been on operational efficiency. In this direction, we have eliminated some positions, and a voluntary exit program was also introduced.”
Despite the cuts, the company clarified that hiring continues across other functions in the U.S. and globally.
Who’s Affected? Android, Pixel, Chrome Teams Feel the Heat
Sources reveal that the Android, Pixel, and Chrome teams have borne the brunt of the current layoffs. This follows internal dissatisfaction with Google’s hybrid work policies and shifting priorities.
Interestingly, Google’s core Search and Artificial Intelligence (AI) divisions remain untouched by this move, reflecting the company’s strategic tilt toward AI innovation in 2025.
Layoffs Becoming the Norm at Google?
This isn’t the first round of pink slips from the Mountain View–based giant. In January 2023, Google’s parent company Alphabet Inc. laid off a whopping 12,000 employees, roughly 6% of its global workforce, to cut costs and optimize resources.
Even in early 2024, limited layoffs were reported in Google’s Cloud division, as per a Bloomberg report.
What’s Next for Google Employees?
While the company insists the job cuts are part of an efficiency push, industry experts say it reflects broader uncertainty in Big Tech as firms pivot toward AI, cloud, and new-gen hardware.
Google’s total global workforce remains close to 1.8 lakh, but insiders suggest that internal reshuffling is likely to continue through 2025.
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